Towel and similar article hanger



Oct. 20, 1953 C. 'H. WOLD TOWEL AND SIMILAR ARTICLE HANGER Filed Jan. 11, 1951 I n uentor Clarence H. Wald B 3mm WWW -May,

Patented Oct. 20, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

The present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in miscellaneous ar-' tide and apparel hangers and has more particular reference to a unique hanger which is fashioned from a length of wire, is properly secured on a base, and provides a handy and aptly suitable means whereby a towel, wash rag, a shirt or other article of apparel may be conveniently grasped and suspended thereby.

More specifically, the invention has to do with a hanger which takes the form of a novel clip and which employs converging members as a wedge, the latter providing an expansible and contractible crotch for reception and retention of the article to be grasped and suspended therein. The art to which the invention relates discloses many and varied styles and types of wedge-like grippers and holders. Nevertheless and despite the state of development of the art there still exists a need for a towel or equivalent hanger for bathroom and similar use which more aptly solves the problem at hand.

It is therefore an object of the instant invention to structurally, functionally and otherwise improve on prior art devices through the provision of a novel structural adaptation which is simple in construction, easy to install and remove and otherwise aptly suited to constitute an improvement in this line of endeavor.

A further object of the invention is to provide a suitable wooden base and novelly bent wire hanger thereon in which manufacturers and users will find their essential requirements fully met, contained and aptly available.

In carrying out a preferred embodiment of the invention the base is preferably made from superposed wooden or equivalent blocks which are glued or otherwise fastened together, said base constituting a satisfactory mount which is applicable to a door frame, door, wall or other surface in a manner to effectively install the hanger.

Further novelty is predicated on a wire hanger unit, the stated base forming blocks and ways and means whereby the portions of the wire hanger are associated in a novel and convenient manner.

Other objects and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawm s.

in the accompanying sheet of drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a towel or equivalent article hanger constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged central vertical section taken approximately on the vertical line -2 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is a section at right angles on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the structure depicted in Figure 1.

The foundation or base is preferably, but not necessarily, of composite or laminated form. As a matter of fact, the laminations take the form of two Wooden blocks of corresponding construction. The block on one side, which may be called the inward side, is denoted by the numeral 5 and has a rectangular upper portion 8 and a V-shaped lower end portion 15. The complemental outwardly facing block is denoted by the numeral l2 and this also has an upper rectangular portion I l and a lower V-shaped portion IS. The wire hanger unit is formed from a single length of Wire which is bent between its ends as at It to provide a substantially V- shaped article receiver and gripper 29. The converging limbs of this are denoted by the numerals 22 and they converge into a restricted but slightly spreadable crotch into which a corner or edge portion of a towel or the like 24 is forcibly jammed, wedged and removably anchored in place, this in an obvious manner. The upper end portions of the limbs are flared outwardly in diverging relationship as at 23 to provide feeders or piloting members. In fact, this might be referred to as an entrance or throat to facilitate conveniently lodging the article 24 in place and then forcing it down and jamming it in the wedge-shaped crotch. The remaining or terminal end portions of the wire are laterally bent as at 28-28 and these extend at right angles to the panel or wooden block to facilitate attachment to said block. In fact, the block has holes therethrough as at 3!] and the ends extend through the holes and the terminal portions 32 are clenched and thus secured in place. There is a bolt 3 provided and this has its headed end 36 embedded in recesses provided therefor at 38 in the meeting faces of the two panels or blocks. This headed end portion may be a simple nut which is embedded between the blocks and lined up with a hole 46 to permit the shank of the bolt to be passed through the hole and anchored in the nut. The usual integral head 42 on the outer end of the bolt is provided with a screw driver kerf 44. A spacing sleeve 46 is provided and this surrounds the protruding portion of the shank and is lodged between the crotch of the hanger and the adjacent surface of the panel or block. The two blocks are thus superimposed and glued or otherwise secured together to maintain these parts in place. In addition, suitable holes 48 are provided therein, these to accommodate screws or the like which are employed in fastening the base on a door frame, door or other relatively stationary support.

It will be evident that the wire from which the hanger is made is of sufficient resiliency that the bolted crotch portion may yield slightly to permit the towel or other article to be jammed in the receiving and retaining crotch.

It is thought that persons skilled in the art to which the invention relates will be able to obtain a clear understanding of the invention after considering the description in connection with the drawings. Therefore, a more lengthy description is regarded as unnecessary.

Minor changes in the shape, size and arrangement of details coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, if desired.

Having described the invention, claimed as new is:

1. An article hanger comprising a base having a fiat surface, a nut embedded in said base, a bolt having one end portion piercing said base and screwed into said nut, the opposite end portion being headed and said head being spaced from the flat surface of the base, a spacing sleeve surrounding said bolt and hearing at one end against the fiat face of the base, a single length of wire bent intermediate its ends and defining a substantially V-shaped article gripper, said gripper embodying a crotch with a vertex and the adjacent converging portions embracing the bolt and interposed between the sleeve and the head of the bolt, said crotch portion being disposed in a position extending upwardly from and slanting slightly outwardly away from the flat face of the base, the free end portions of the limbs of said wire being bent laterally with respect to said V-shaped gripper, said free end porwhat is tions being at right angles to and fastened to said base, the junctural connecting portions between the arms and diverging limbs of said v-shaped. gripper being rounded to facilitate piloting and feeding the article to be held into a clamping position between said limbs.

2. An article hanger comprising a base embodying a block having a bolt hole, a nut embedded in said block and in alignment with said bolt hole, a bolt having a screw-threaded shank passing through said hole and screwed into and adjustably anchored in said nut, said shank projecting at right angles beyond the adjacent front face of I said block and having its beaded end spaced from said face, a spacer sleeve encircling said shank and having one end bearing against said face, a single length of wire bent upon itself intermediate its ends and defining a substantially V-shaped article gripper and hanger, said gripper embodying converging limbs providing a wedge-shaped crotch portion, said crotch portion embracing said shank and being clamped between the head of the bolt and adjacent end of said sleeve, said limbs extending upwardly from said bolt and slanting outwardly and away from the face of the block, the free ends of said limbs being bent laterally toward said block and passing through holes provided therefor in said block with the terminals of the free ends bent laterally and clenched and bound against the rear face of said block, and a complemental base block superimposed against the rear face of said first-named block and fastened thereto and co ering said terminals and said nut and rendering the latter normally inaccessible.

CLARENCE H. WOLD.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 378,407 Strauss Feb. 21, 1888 407,132 Spurgin July 16, 1889 1,271,766 Raab July 9, 1918 1,426,495 Norman Aug. 22, 1922 1,630,347 Luther May 31, 1927 1,799,049 Krueger Mar. 31, 1931 2,304,967 Tiryakian Dec. 15, 1942 2,413,145 Kump Dec. 24, 1946 

